Heat by Heat Results - October 1966

Into the last month of the season, and an open date in the calendar was filled with a 17-heat challenge match against a League Stars select team, spear-headed by Terry Betts of King's Lynn.  it was comfortable victory for Halifax, albeit with an eye on the remaining league and cup fixtures.  Boocock was denied a maximum when his machine gave up in the final race, but it was a straight-forward night, including a first paid-win for Robinson in heat 4.  But all eyes were on Swindon...

The first silverware for the Dukes was secured with an aggregate point win over Sheffield in the Northern Cup.  Eric Boocock was plagued by engine problems all night, but the strength in depth of the Dukes was sufficient to see them accumulate the 25 points they needed to win the cup.  That was effectively secured when Boothroyd took second place in heat 9, although with Younghusband in unbeatable form, the Dukes were never likely to slip up.  

The 8th October 1966 - the night the Halifax Dukes were crowned British League champions!  There may have been some nerves beforehand, but there was little sign of this as the Dukes swept aside Belle Vue to take the title.  Dave Younghusband crossed the line to win heat 10 to secure a 14th league win on the trot, and the 2 points needed to overhaul Coventry.  Both Younghusband and Boothroyd eased to full maximums, with Boocock and Roper also unbeaten by an opponent.

Four nights on from the title celebrations and the Dukes were at it again, this time in the home leg of the Knock-out cup final against Wimbledon.  Superb performances from the Halifax top four, plus back up from Gavros and Jameson took the Dukes into a seemingly unasailable lead as they swept away the Dons with a succession of heat advantages.  Olle Nygren once again put up stubborn resistance for the visitors, but it was a lone battle as his team mates failed to make an impact.  The Dukes had one hand on the cup and would just need to reach 28 points in five nights time...

Before the small matter of clinching the treble, the Dukes carried on their imperious title-winning form with a comfortable win away at Belle Vue.  Apart from Robinson and Gavros, all the Dukes helped themselves to points against a poor Aces side, for whom Cyril Maidment proved the only threat to Halifax's domination.  Bob Jameson top scored for the Dukes, winning 3 of his 4 outings, including 2 heat advantages with Boothroyd, whilst Boocock, Roper and Younghusband were also dominant.

After the crushing first leg victory, overall cup success was a mere formality, and the 1966 Halifax Dukes wrote themselves into the history books on a damp Monday night in South West London.  Olle Nygren was dominant for the Dons, who threated a comeback when they jumped into a 12 point lead, but a 4-2 from Boothroyd and Jameson in heat 8 steadied the ship.  Boocock and Roper combined for a shared heat the next time out to finally snuff out the Dons' revival.  The cup was assured beyond doubt when Dave Younghusband crossed the line to win heat 11 and begin the celebrations!

The Dukes finally lost an official fixture for the first time since mid-July courtesy of a last-heat decider in the final fixture of the season away at King's Lynn. Halifax lead early on but slipped behind mid-meeting as the exertions of the season finally caught up.  Boocock and Boothroyd were still in fine form but failed to receive back up, save for a Younghusband heat win in heat 2.  Needing a 5-1 in the final race to snatch a draw however, Younghusband was left trailing as the Stars took the points.